In an effort to distract herself Morgana had spent the last couple of days reading by the private pool, snorkeling at Nefu Beach, and perusing the shops at Nefu Port. But it wasn't enough to stop the anxiety that haunted her every step like a banshee trailing a dying mortal. She couldn't stop glancing at her ring and worrying about Caliath. She couldn't stop the dread pooling in her stomach as awful thoughts whispered to her that something bad had happened to him.

Morgana had even considered going to Aeperos Court at one point.

"I can shadow-walk there," Morgana had said, one sunny afternoon when she and Aelys had been lounging by the private pool.

Aelys wore an orange chiffon dress and sipped her cocktail. "How would you know where to go? You've never been to Aeperos Castle. At least give it a week and if we still haven't heard from Caliath then we'll see what we can do. Briar might know of a way to get to the castle."

Morgana laid back on the deck chair. Light from the pool danced over her face. Her green dress, which was patterned with white hibiscus, was sticking to her sweaty back. Aelys was right, but still ...

On the morning of the fourth day, pale sunlight crept through Morgana's bedroom as she dozed, until her door crashed open and she bolted upright. Aelys stood there, hair messy, and still in her light blue nightgown. A copy of The Golight Daily was in her hand.

Morgana's heart picked up pace. "Is that what I think it is?"

Aelys nodded, a grin breaking across her face. The room lit up as the sun rose higher. "Wait till you read it. It's glorious."

***

Arden had crafted a scathing article that unveiled Lord Undine's corrupt rule. It was as if Undine society had once been a beautiful shell that, now broken, revealed something rotten had been inside it all along. Within days of the article's release there were protests. Chants about fairness and equality echoed through the empty streets as holiday goers stayed inside, too scared to venture out. Bedraggled Undines gathered out the front of businesses and out the front of Undine Manor's gates, sickened with the divide between rich and poor.

There was a fae, named Lionel, who'd lost his job at a local boat factory, over the course of a month his family was made homeless because they couldn't afford the rent on their hut anymore. They couldn't afford food because of skyrocketing prices. They'd been told lies that the prices were due to inflation, but they didn't realize that the inflation was driven by soaring profit margins from businesses owned by the wealthy. Lionel's story was like so many of the Undines, where their labor had been exploited by the rich. In his anger and desperation Lionel had thrown a lit bottle of spirits through one of Undine Manor's windows. The two guards who'd patrolled the grounds heard the shattering glass and put the fire out with their water magic. Undine Manor had been empty at the time. Antonio was on Kali Island with his parents and Lord Undine was on Vichi Island still tending to his businesses. As punishment, the guards had drowned Lionel and left his waterlogged corpse at the gates for all to see.

That was when all hell broke loose.

An already furious crowd tore Undine Manor's gates down and ransacked the place. Furniture, clothes, and jewels were stolen. Artworks were destroyed. One fae broke into Lord Undine's study and ripped up all his files so that the room was covered in shredded paper, as if a tiger had clawed its way through the room.

Then the looting spread to the rest of the island.

Wealthy homes were targeted, and the businesses that were listed in the article were ransacked and set alight. Screams and cries tore through the streets. Fae tried to flee the mob and flames that ripped through the village and jungle. It was the screaming that woke Morgana and Aelys up, one night, as they realized that their resort was targeted. Shouts, smashing furniture, and breaking glass echoed through their windows as they hastily packed their bags. Still in their pajamas, they fled to the docks to get a ship back to Golah Village but all transport out of the islands was booked out. The docks teemed with crying fae and faeries, in various states of dress, trying to flee the Undine Islands. Some of their faces were streaked with soot. Thick smoke from the fires choked the air and blotted the stars from view. Explosions rumbled in the distance. Guards tried to keep order but even they were overwhelmed because there weren't many guards to begin with on the islands. They hadn't needed many until now.

Morgana and Aelys ran over to the post office, which was filled to bursting, fae and faeries leaked out of the doors as they tried to get messages out. Seagulls and pelicans took flight into the moonlit sky, carrying messages for help. After a long and sweaty wait that was punctuated with sobbing fae and faeries, Aelys and Morgana managed to squeeze their way into the post office and send a message off on a seagull.

They left the suffocating post office and Morgana sighed as a smoke scented breeze cooled her forehead. They waited by the side of a quiet road, shaded with palm trees, as fae and faeries piled onto Nefu Beach, waiting to be taken away on boats and ferries. Morgana sat down on the curb and rested her head on her arms. Her stomach twisted as she tried to block out the panicked shouts and sobbing. She tried to focus on the flower embroidery on her pale linen pajamas. Dimly, she wondered whether the other islands were in just as much chaos. The article had been effective. And all who had been involved would be in grave danger.

Morgana lifted her head. "Have you heard from Arden?"

Strands of blond hair escaped Aelys's messy bun and her face was dewy from the humidity. Aelys's loose green pajamas rippled with the wind as she sat next to Morgana and brought her knees up to her chest. "When we were leaving, I noticed a letter under the front door. I don't know how long it had been there but I think it could be from them." Aelys pulled out a piece of crumpled parchment from her pocket and smoothed it out on her lap. Morgana peered at it.

I hope this finds you well. I won't be using names in case this letter falls into the wrong hands but I know you can tell it's me from my handwriting. I've had no choice but to leave Elysia because of how everything has unfolded. There's an arrest warrant out for me. Rest assured, I am safe. For now.

A.

Morgana's throat worked. She had done this. She had placed Arden in danger so great that they had to flee Elysia. Could Arden ever return to their home or would it be lost to them forever? Would they ever be safe again? Or would they be hunted by Lord Undine and those who supported him.

Fire trickled down Nefu Mountain like lava dribbling down a volcano. Morgana stared at the docks, where a group of fae had begun fighting over a boat. A small faeling, with rainbow hair and blue skin, cried out to her father who was one of the fae getting bashed. Had Morgana ever thought about collateral damage? Of what would happen to the innocents when they enacted this part of the plan? Guilt twisted low and sharp in her belly. Morgana sucked in a breath and her eyes stung.

Aelys sighed. "At least Arden escaped."

"Yeah," Morgana's voice cracked.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Morgana swiped a tear from her cheek. "This is what's wrong." She waved a hand over the fires and the panicked crowd. "This is all my fault!"

"No, it isn't." Aelys's eyes flashed.

"Yes, it is."

"No, it isn't! This is Lord Undine's fault. The Undines are mad because the rich have been profiting from them for years. This is a problem that existed long before you did and it was only going to get worse. We only told the truth to the Undines. That's it." Aelys wrapped an arm around Morgana's shoulders. "The protests and riots were bound to happen. Once the proposal took effect there would have been more fae and faeries struggling. The Undines wouldn't have stood for it."

Morgana sniffed and wiped her face. Aelys was right but that still didn't stop the guilt spreading from her belly to her chest as if it were spilled poison. After an hour where Morgana and Aelys could do nothing but wait the seagull finally returned with a message.

"We have to go to Palm Beach. The boat will meet us there in half an hour." Aelys tore up the message and it fluttered away like ash on a breeze.

Morgana stood up and brushed her pajamas down. She checked the clock tower as embers floated across its face. "We better hurry then."

They shared a look then walked quickly down the road, past scared fae and faeries who were heading to the docks. Aelys's earth magic towed their bags behind them and Morgana dabbed her sweaty forehead. They hurried down an empty alleyway where a single lamp glowed and the faint smell of garbage lingered. Soon, they were onto the main road. Wagons and carriages clopped past, overloaded with fae and faeries. On the street were stragglers, carrying bags, trying to hail a ride.

Morgana glanced at the clock tower again. "We have to run if we're going to make it." If they were stuck here any longer ... Morgana shuddered to think what would happen.

They broke out into a jog, past the crowds, empty shops, and homes. They ran for a while until they came to a part of the village that was empty of everyone. The only sounds were Aelys's and Morgana's labored breaths and footsteps pounding the road. Cicadas chirped. Up ahead, the road disappeared into a wall of darkness and they slowed down, chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath. Unease squirmed in Morgana's belly. The darkness seemed to have swallowed this part of the village.

Aelys's hands were on her knees as she gasped, "Why are there no streetlights?"

"Looters, maybe?" Morgana clutched her side where a stitch had formed. "This area was evacuated yesterday."

"We need to go through here to get to Palm Beach."

They swapped a long look. Unsure.

"If anyone tries anything. We can take them out." Morgana took a deep breath and lifted her chin.

"Yeah, still doesn't change the fact that we're about to head into a dark street with Goddess knows what hiding in the shadows."

"I know but you got to give us more credit." She conjured up a fireball and floated it into the darkness.

"What if someone saw that?" Aelys hissed.

"There's no one around." Morgana gestured to the abandoned road.

The fireball flickered dim light over the road, empty restaurants, and shops. Rubbish littered the sidewalks. Shattered glass glinted. Overturned chairs and tables peeked through doorways. They waited in case any looters came out but only silence greeted them. Once Morgana and Aelys were sure that there was no one waiting to ambush them, they set off into the pitch-black with the fireball to guide their way. Broken shop windows leered at them with jagged teeth. Dark empty buildings towered. Long alleyways felt like traps. Morgana and Aelys's footsteps punctured the eerie silence, and Morgana prayed that they'd make it through safely. After an interminable walk, where the silence was so suffocating that Morgana felt like she was crawling out of her skin, firefly lights suddenly glowed up ahead. Morgana's chest loosened as she and Aelys ran towards it and out onto a road with pale luxurious beach homes and swaying palms. Brine washed through the air and quiet settled around them. Most of the residents had left because Palm Terrace was one of the wealthier towns, of course they'd been evacuated earlier than anyone else. They turned onto Palm Avenue and froze.

Morgana's mouth dropped open.

Smoke clouded the air and drifted over Morgana and Aelys.

A fae with pale skin and dark hair stumbled off the path. She was covered in soot. Charred holes dotted her night gown. An angry burn clawed up her right arm, peeling back the skin. Blood dripped over her fingertips. The fae ran past, sobbing and coughing.

"Wait!" Morgana yelled but the fae kept running and disappeared down the dark road.

Aelys stared.

Morgana and Aelys shared a horrified look then turned back to the road where the fae had come from.

It was as if a bomb had detonated over Palm Avenue.

There were piles of black rubble where mansions had once stood. Some, still had flames roaring up pale walls and chewing through orange tiles. Windows exploded. Fire devoured palm trees, and wails rose into the night. There was a group of guards trying to put out the flames from one home with their water magic. Ash drifted over the street and settled onto Morgana and Aelys's hair. Embers floated onto blackened lawns and reminded Morgana of the vision she'd seen of the Witches' War. A stark reminder of the brutality and destruction when two opposing forces fought. It reminded her of the night when her parents had been killed.

"We have to go," Aelys murmured.

Morgana nodded and forced her numb feet to move. She followed Aelys into the swirling smoke, her eyes stinging as she coughed.

"Don't look!" Aelys warned.

But too late.

In the middle of the road was a guard who'd been ripped apart by an earth user. A bloody leg was on the path and an arm was on someone's charcoaled lawn. Bile surged up Morgana's throat as she ran past the guard and grasped Aelys's hand.

"Come on," Aelys's voice trembled.

They made it to the end of the road and onto a sandy walkway that was framed by dark bushes. Inky waves crashed in the distance and the fresh brine was a welcome reprieve from the choking smoke of the fires. The wind whipped their clothes back as they reached the empty beach. Morgana collapsed onto the sand and Aelys did the same.

"That was ..."

"I know," Aelys murmured.

The wind roared as they fell into a haunted silence.

Morgana couldn't stop thinking about the dead guard, about Arden, and the faeling on the shores of Nefu Port watching her father get beaten into a bloody pulp. Morgana couldn't stop thinking about the fae that had run past them, her arm burned to a crisp. The sobs of terrified fae echoed in her ears. She'd never forget the horror on the faces of those who were trying to flee the carnage. She thought of Antonio, who'd always been kind to her. Morgana's throat bobbed. Waves crashed onto the sand. It was the innocents that she felt bad for, that they'd been caught up in this.

"Remember, this would've happened anyway when Lord Undine would've put the tax proposal through." Aelys's blue eyes were earnest. Grey ash was in her hair, and soot was smudged all over her face.

Morgana hadn't realized that Aelys was observing the play of emotions across her face. "I know. I just wish it was only the guilty that suffered."

A moment of silence, and then Aelys looked away. "There cannot be change without destruction of the previous order."

Morgana glanced at her sister. The moonlight glowed over her delicate nose and full lips. But Aelys's eyes were hard as she gazed out at the sea. There was a calm strength to her. A strength befitting a queen.

A shout drifted out of the darkness and a lamp flared beyond the waves. The boat was here.

Morgana wiped her cheeks, chest a little lighter. Whether she liked it or not, change was on the horizon. And it was a change for the better.

"I know." Her voice was swallowed by the wind.